VISITING GOLFERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21983, 14 December 1934, Page 16

VISITING GOLFERS

MATCHES AT KOTOKUA

BRITISH TEAM IMPRESSES ACCURACY AND POWER [BY TKIjEGRAPII—OWN CORRESPONDENT] ROTORUA, Thursday The weather was perfect this morning for the matches between tho British amateur golfers and the Rotorua team. Hot conditions were tempered by a Southerly breeze. The fairways wero in good order, but the greens varied owing to top-dressing. The morning play was a four-ball best-ball. The Hon. Michael Scott and J. McLean were matched against G. Barker and R. C. Smith, while L. Garnett and T. A. Bourn met M. Carr and L. Poole.

A considerable gallery followed McLean and Scott. All players took three putts at the first green, but afterward the visitors controlled tli& game. Their long, accurate tee shots gave them a marked advantago, and the match ended in their favour on tho 13th green. McLean's card read: — Out: 52455344 2—34 In: 5 4 5 4 3 3 4 3 4—35 Total G9 Scott wont round in 72, and the combined card was almost unbeatablo. Garnett's Long Hitting Bourn and Garnett disposed of thoir opponents by the same margin, 6 and 5. Garnett's long hitting was sometimes off the line, but his recovery was always sound. Bourn's wood shots wero faultless. After going out in 37, ho came home in 35. Tho local players played up to thoir handicaps. In the afternoon the heat was intense, and singles were abandoned in favour of a four-ball. McLean and Scott mot S. E. Carr and J. Barker, but tho local men could make no headway against the accuracy of their opponents and lost, 5 and 4. R. C. Smith, partnered by R. -Spedding, made a great fight against Garnett and Bourn, losing 2 and 1.

Garnett's card read: — Out: 4 3 3 5 3 2 5 4 4—33 In: 55543352 4—36 Total 69 Long Putt lor a Two In spite of the devastating attack, Smith and Spedding held tho visitors to tho 16th green, ulien they were one down with the advantage on the green, but Garnett holed a 25ft. putt for a two. At the 18th, Garnett put his tee shot to the edge of tho green, a distanco of 320 yds. After the close of tho match, the ■visitors were entertained at tho clubhouse, where tho president, Mr. E. La T. Hill, expressed tho hope that they would enjoy their visit to the Dominion. Mrs. Hill presented each player with a greenstone tiki as a memento of the visit. The Hon. Michael Scott, in reply, stressed the extreme delight of the British players at the welcome given them in their brief stay. They were all enthusiastic concerning the beauty and golfing quality pi the Botorua course. The remainder of the day was spent in sight-seeing and visiting the baths, and the British team later left for Auckland.

AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS EXHIBITION AT TITIRANGI Arrangements have been completed for the American coif professionals who have been touring Australia to play exhibition matches at the Titirangi links all day next Tuesday. To enable this programme to be carried out the departure of the Monterey will be delayed until 5 p.m. The exhibition should be one of the most brilliant yet staged in the Dominion.